Since January 7th, 2025, the Los Angeles Palisades and Eaton fires have scorched over 40,000 acres, led to the evacuation of thousands of people, and according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner, killed at least 27 people. The total area burned is nearly twice the size of Manhattan, yet it is not nearly as big as the 2018 Camp Fire (which affected 153,336 acres). But, because of the windy conditions, Los Angeles firefighters are having trouble containing the fires, even calling for help from Orange County firefighters. Freshman Bianca Bobko shared that, “[her] dad works for the fire department, and he knows some people who have been called up there to help deal with the fires.” Even so, these fires remain uncontained.
Considering these fires are burning in the middle of residential areas, compensation for property damage will likely be incredibly costly, estimated by Wells Fargo to be as high as 130 billion dollars, easily exceeding the California record of 16 billion. Several thousands of houses, businesses, and buildings have been destroyed. “It’s really sad, because even though fires are very common in California, it was incredibly unexpected,” adds Bobko.
Aside from property losses, years of history, culture, and legacies have also been burned away. For example, the historically black community of Altadena was one of the most affected by the Eaton fire. Located at the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains, Altadena was one of the few cities during the Civil Rights Movement that allowed African Americans to buy homes and be approved for mortgages. As of 2023, according to The Guardian, 81% of homeowners in the area are of African descent. Much of the community was also working class, and for those whose homes have burned down, they cannot accumulate wealth through their property.
These recent fires are not like other wildfires in the past. Many of the buildings that have been burned not only release smoke but also vapors and extremely toxic gases, such as lead and asbestos. “I have taped up the windows and fireplace at my home for now and have bought air purifiers that filter out PM2.5 as well as formaldehyde,” Los Angeles resident Candace Yang explains. Air quality in areas outside of Los Angeles have also been impacted.
For the thousands of families displaced by the Palisades and Eaton fires, necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter are in short supply. Resources to support those affected by the Los Angeles fires are listed below. Every donation, no matter how small, will help communities rebuild and strengthen their efforts during this crisis.
California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund: https://www.cafirefoundation.
California Community Foundation: https://www.calfund.org/funds/
The California Community Fund: https://www.calfund.org/funds/
American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/
